Most of us are overwhelmed by our email inbox. What was once promised to make us more productive [email], has us distracted by the number of emails we need to read, respond to, and file. Not to mention, the interruption the new email “ding” causes every couple minutes throughout the work day.
Most people need to be physically (or digitally) restrained from checking email, posting on social media and planning meetings. Our CEO, Jonathan Erwin, offers five suggestions that will help us all in a contributor post on Forbes.com titled Email Overload Is Costing You Billions – Here’s How To Crush It.
1. Slash mass emails by at least 90%. Some emails might contain information that everyone needs to know, but that doesn’t mean you have to communicate by email. Consider alternate communication channels rather than using email for all communication. Such as signs for a parking lot closure, mobile messaging for crisis communications, and hand-written thank you cards from executives.
2. Ban email and social media one day per week. Rotate what days departments get to be email and social-free (e.g. Development, Monday; Marketing, Tuesday, and so on). Leave one person per department on email in case of an urgent matter. Watch in amazement as things get done.
3. Set a 30 minute maximum for all meetings. This will clear a lot of the chatter and tangents. It will also encourage people to prepare points, set agendas and make better use of the time.
4. Track engagement in top down communications. Target your employees the way marketers target consumers. Use a platform that can a) Reach your entire workforce or specific groups within your workforce, and b) Show you how many people read the message.
5. Use articulate subject lines. “Hey,” “Announcement,” and “Please Read” are not coherent subjects. If you’re going take someone’s time with email, a social post or a mobile message, make it clear why you’re doing this.
Overall, let’s do less emailing, less posting, less meeting and more doing. We’re over-communicating, but we can choose to stop.
Read the complete article at Forbes.com.
Amee Kent
Red e App Marketing Director
